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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Freedom of press in Venezuela

Free Speech and RCTV in Venezuela

May 30, 2007 9:30 | by James Suggett

http://www.spectrezine.org/LatinAmerica/Suggett.htm

There is a heated and complicated debate going on rightnow over the decision by the Chavez-led government ofVenezuela not to renew the television concession whichfor years has pertained to Radio Caracas Television(RCTV). The issue has captured international attention,but has not been dignified by accurate reporting in thedominant international media.

The accusations of "restrictions on the freedom ofspeech", which appear frequently in the internationalmedia, are not only inaccurate, but also simplyfrightening. Frankly, the discrepancy between what isreported internationally and what is happening on theground raises concern that even respected groups likeHuman Rights Watch, the BBC World News, and CNN are outof touch with the real struggles of social movements inthe Global South.

In Venezuela, as in most democracies, the right tobroadcast TV and radio are public commons, which belongin the hands of the public in some way. Sincerepresentative democracy is such a predominantpolitical model at this point in history,democratically elected governments like the one inVenezuela are supposed to control the publiccommunications commons. The government givesconcessions to private parties to use these commonsresponsibly, and the government has the right to takethem away in the public interest at any time.

The decision not to renew the concession to RCTV wasmade after a thorough investigation of theirjournalistic ethics including accuracy, objectivity,and their compliance with the Law on Responsibility inTelevision and Radio (which was denounced by HumanRights Watch for being a restriction of free speech).

Since 1999 RCTV has spread blatant lies and outlandishmanipulations of information directly attacking Chavez.It has broadcasted sexually explicit and otherinappropriate material in such violation of the law(652 cases) that any honest assessment leads to theconclusion that their journalism is an attack on publichealth and decency. Fox News is a kitten compared toRCTV.

Beyond this, RCTV were leaders in the 2-day coup inApril 2002. This coup was not only one that used themilitary, but also the media. During the coup, RCTVcancelled their usual programs and broadcast a two-daystring of black and white fuzziness, Hollywood movies,cartoons, and infomercials. This is widely confirmed byVenezuelans. When RCTV finally covered the coup, theyreported that Chavez had signed his resignation andpeacefully left his post as president after hissupporters had opened fire on an innocent oppositionmarch. The images RCTV broadcasted of the violenceamong the marchers were later proved to have beensecretively arranged so to block from view the reality;pro-Chavez marchers were firing in self-defense afterhaving been attacked by hidden gunmen. Meanwhile, theirpresident had been violently kidnapped. RCTV's actionwere part of a blatant and well-coordinated attempt bythe major media to assist the coup leaders by blindingthe public to what was actually happening.

Luckily, there is an extensive system of alternativemedia in Latin America which spread the message of thetruth, and the Venezuelan people stormed Caracas andput their president back in power, along with themajority of the National Guard which did not supportthe senior officers who had planned the coup. Thereporting was in fact much worse than Fox Newsreporting that Florida went to Bush in the 2000Presidential election and covering up all themanipulations of the voter roles.

RCTV is well-known not only for constant dishonestanti-Chavez propaganda and a complete lack of dignifiedanalysis, but for massive amounts of advertising forsex hotlines, pornographic programs back to backbetween 1 and 5am, and other behavior that wasconsidered to be irresponsible and in violation of lawsprotecting children.

There remain approximately three other major stationswhich are entirely opposition-run and very similar toRCTV in their programming. Over the years since thecoup, the Chavez administration has negotiated withthese stations behind the scenes. The stations haveagreed to curb a lot of their ridiculous anti-Chavezpropaganda and sexually explicit programming, so as notto have their concession closed. RCTV was absolutelyuncompromising, and subsequently, it lost itsconcession.

Arguments suggesting that Chavez is arbitrarilycensoring those who criticize him are weakened by thefact that the opposition's message (that there is nofreedom of speech in Venezuela) is pounded through themost prominent radio waves, the biggest TV stations,and through all major press every day of the week, evenafter Chavez's management of media concessions.

Many Venezuelans who support Chavez criticize Chavezfor negotiating with the TV stations which participatedin the coup (and have awful programming). Many believethose stations should have been shut down - withoutcompromise.

Many of my Venezuelan friends reveal that they are notimmune to the media's campaigns; they were raised toinstinctively believe much of what the news reports. Sowhen they read news reports about the lack of freedomof speech in Venezuela, they express a mix of feelings- mainly confusion and anger. They almost feel sillytrying to engage in a discussion about it. Because theobvious reality in front of them is that in Venezuelathere is freedom of speech, especially since RCTV'sclosing and the opening of media outlets such asTelesur, which broadcast other perspectives.

RCTV has now campaigned to get the OAS, the USA andother international bodies on their side in an effortto paint the Chavez government as dictatorial and usepolitical pressure to get their concession renewed. Butthe law and justice are not on RCTV's side, especiallysince the Tribunal Supremo de Justicia, the supremecourt of Venezuela, ruled strongly in favor of theconstitutionality of the non-renewal of the concessionlast week.

It is important to note that the channel that receivedthe concession in RCTV's place is a concrete steptoward public television in Venezuela. "VenezuelanSocial Television" (TVES) is controlled by a foundationindependent of the government, with a governmentappointee on its board of directors. Further, it willbroadcast mostly programs produced by independentparties, and will focus on quality, educationaltelevision. No "reality shows", just reality. Thechannel is nascent, which means that in reality itcould become distinct from its original vision.Nonetheless, in these initial stages it suggests abrighter journalistic future for Venezuela. You canread about it in the transcript of an interview withthe director of public policy of the ministry ofcommunication and information, Luisana Colomine, athttp://www.venezuelanalysis.com.

Thorough interrogation of questions of democracy inVenezuela is extremely important, particularly in therealm of petroleum politics. Some social movementsargue that PDVSA is teaming up with transnationalcorporations from the USA to cover up the devastatinghuman and environmental effects of oil exploitation. Itis possible that there is simply no democracy in theoil business anywhere in the world. Why might it bethat this is not denounced by Bush and theinternational media?

The non-renewal of RCTV's concession has been one ofthe more positively democratic acts of the Chavezgovernment since Chavez's re-election. Living inVenezuela, seeing things from this perspective, when Ihear the accusations of violations of freedom ofspeech, I am absolutely flabbergasted. I feel adisturbing sensation of powerlessness and alienationfrom the international media. These issues raisequestions as to who really controls internationalcommunication, and whether we think it is OK for acorporation like Disney to own the History Channel.These questions are beyond the scope of this article,but are extremely important and directly related tothis issue.

James Suggett collaborates with both government andcivil society organizations in Merida, Venezuela,including the Mision Sucre, Mision Vuelvan Caras, theAutonomous Culture Institute, feminist organizationssuch as the Luna Nueva Collective, and an array ofcooperativist development initiatives.

(Washington, DC, May 22, 2007)-The Venezuelangovernment's politically motivated decision not torenew a television broadcasting license is a serioussetback for freedom of expression in Venezuela, HumanRights Watch said today. The decision will shut downRadio Caracas Television (RCTV), the country's oldestprivate channel, when its license expires on May 27,2007. President Hugo Chávez has repeatedly threatenedto cancel RCTV's license ever since he accused it ofsupporting an April 2002 coup attempt. On December 28,2006, he announced during a military ceremony that theorder not to renew the channel's 20-year license hadalready been drafted.

'President Hugo Chávez is misusing the state'sregulatory authority to punish a media outlet for itscriticism of the government,' said José Miguel Vivanco,Americas director at Human Rights Watch. 'The move toshut down RCTV is a serious blow to freedom ofexpression in Venezuela.'

Of the three commercial stations accessible in allparts of Venezuela, only RCTV has remained stronglycritical of the government. The other two-Venevisionand Televen-were themselves accused of supporting theattempted coup and subsequent anti-government protests.But both have since removed virtually all contentcritical of the government from their programming.

Venevision's license is also due for renewal on May 27,but the government has remained silent about thechannel's future, in contrast to its repeated publicattacks on RCTV.

Officials defend the decision by pointing out that thegovernment is merely exercising its right not to renewRCTV's broadcasting license when it expires. However,no procedure was established to enable RCTV to presentevidence and arguments in its favor; the criteria onwhich the decision was based were not establishedclearly beforehand, nor was there any application orselection process allowing RCTV to submit anapplication for continuation of its concession.

In March 2007 the government published details of itscase-a 360-page 'White Book on RCTV'-which includespages of allegations against the station, some of thembased on investigations by the government broadcastingauthority CONATEL. The report was issued months afterChávez made his announcement and does not address thestation's replies to CONATEL's investigation.

The White Book accuses RCTV of 'inciting rebellion,'showing 'lack of respect for authorities andinstitutions,' breaking the laws protecting minors,engaging in monopolistic practices, and failing to paytaxes. However, it does not cite a single finaljudicial or administrative ruling establishing that thechannel had in fact committed any of these allegedoffenses during its 20-year contract. No one from thechannel has been convicted for their alleged complicityin the attempted coup.

Government officials have announced that RCTV will bereplaced by a public service channel open to communitygroups and independent producers and without editorialcontrol by the state or government programming.

The government has not made a clear case why RCTV mustbe taken off the air to set up the new channel. Thegovernment has frequencies at its disposal on both VHFand UHF wavebands in many parts of Venezuela. It hasalready used UHF frequencies to successfully install anationwide education and cultural channel, Vive TV.

'The government's proposal to democratize the airwavessounds great in theory, but shutting down broadcastersfor their political views is not the way to do it,'said Vivanco.